Vagrancy and Public Drunkenness
There are NO specific vagrancy laws in the State of North Carolina (rather, there were, but they have all been repealed by the Legislature).
§ 14-444. Intoxicated and disruptive in public.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person in a public place to be intoxicated and disruptive in any of the following ways: (1) Blocking or otherwise interfering with traffic on a highway or public vehicular area, or (2) Blocking or lying across or otherwise preventing or interfering with access to or passage across a sidewalk or entrance to a building, or (3) Grabbing, shoving, pushing or fighting others or challenging others to fight, or (4) Cursing or shouting at or otherwise rudely insulting others, or (5) Begging for money or other property.
(b) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 7A-273(1), a magistrate is not empowered to accept a guilty plea and enter judgment for this offense. (1977, 2nd Sess., c. 1134, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 292; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
Note that you must be intoxicated and disruptive for this statute to take effect.
§ 14-447. No prosecution for public intoxication.
(a)No person may be prosecuted solely for being intoxicated in a public place. A person who is intoxicated in a public place and is not disruptive may be assisted as provided in G.S. 122C- 301.
(b) If, after arresting a person for being intoxicated and disruptive in a public place, the law-enforcement officer making the arrest determines that the person would benefit from the care of a shelter or health-care facility as provided by G.S. 122C-301, and that he would not likely be disruptive in such a facility, the officer may transport and release the person to the appropriate facility and issue him a citation for the offense of being intoxicated and disruptive in a public place. This authority to arrest and then issue a citation is granted as an exception to the requirements of G.S. 15A-501(2). (1977, 2nd Sess., c. 1134, s. 1; 1981, c. 519, s. 2; 1985, c. 589, s. 7.)
Note that there is no fine for this offense, and it is neither a Felony or a Misdemeanor.
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